Tech volleyball signs Penrod, Robertson

May 05, 2010

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech volleyball roster
grew by two when head coach John Blair announced the signing of
Natalie Penrod and Elizabeth Robertson last week. The pair joins
Allison May, who committed during the early signing period, in
Tech’s most recent signing class.

With the loss of outside hitter Amanda Lindgren and right-side
hitter Teresa Craig to graduation, Blair addressed those voids as
Penrod was a four-year starter at outside hitter in high school,
and Robertson played both middle blocker and right-side hitter
during her high school career.

Penrod, a 5-foot-11 native of Alexandria, Ky., will come to the
Golden Eagles from Campbell County High School where she played for
coach Leah Ballinger. Her team’s captain and MVP, Penrod
finished in the top-5 in kills in the state of Kentucky and led her
team to four consecutive district championships.

A Kentucky Coaches Association second-team all-state selection
as a senior, Penrod earned Region 10 Player of the Year recognition
as she posted 314 kills, 267 digs, 26 aces and 41 block assists
during her final prep season.

“Natalie is a player who has an all-around game,”
Blair said. “She has the skill set to execute every element
of the game and is only going to get better.”

Penrod collected numerous accolades during her high school
career, including being named to the All-District Tournament Team
three times and being named a Northern Kentucky Coaches Association
All Opponent D1 Player in her final two seasons.

In addition, Penrod was a four-time Scholar Athlete Award winner
and vice president of her school’s PEP Club while maintaining
a 3.93 GPA.

She also had a five-year playing career with the Northern
Kentucky Volleyball Club where she served as team captain her final
two seasons. Penrod, the daughter of Jeff and Connie Penrod, helped
her team to two USAV Junior Nationals bids and a 15th
place finish in 2007.

Penrod intends to major in business at Tennessee Tech.

“She’s a high-energy player, and she plays with a
level of excitement that’s contagious,” Blair said.
“She really fits our system well and will add depth for us on
the outside.”

Robertson, a 6-foot-2 native of Strongsville, Ohio, was a
two-sport athlete at Strongsville High School, playing both
volleyball and basketball. On the volleyball court, she was coached
by Erick Sopata.

A player who continued to improve each year, Robertson was named
first-team all-district and first team all-conference during her
senior season after tallying 159 kills, 49 blocks and 30 aces. She
also earned all-district honorable mention and all-conference
honorable mention during her junior campaign after being named the
team’s best offensive player.

“Elizabeth brings a very athletic frame is one of those
players who is going to get better with every practice,”
Blair said. “I think that she has a great deal of
potential.”

Robertson led Strongsville to four consecutive sectional
championships along with titles at the Mayfield Invitational and
Independence Invitational.

Complementing her on-court accomplishments were her
accomplishments in the classroom as she was a four-time recipient
of her conference’s academic award.

Robertson also played for one of the better-known volleyball
club teams in the state of Ohio, the Cleveland Volleyball Company.

“She comes from a very good club program and has strong
mechanics,” Blair said. “She wants to win and succeed,
and she is the type of player who is not trapped in a position. She
has the ability to play both in the middle and on the right
side.”

Robertson, the daughter of David and Teresa Robertson, intends
to major in exercise science at Tech.